Homemade Strawberry Chia Seed Jam

Chia seeds. It took me a few months to work up the courage to buy them (so foreign! what are they?!), then a few weeks to actually open the bag, but I did.

And then I asked myself why I didn’t crack into the bag earlier. Geez! This strawberry chia seed jam has injected serious flavor into my mornings (and snacks, and desserts…)

If you ask B, he’ll tell you I’m a cautious slowpoke with new things. I’ll gush about a fab pair of shoes I brought home, then leave the tags on them for weeks. That DIY project I *can’t wait* to finish doesn’t exactly…start. And that hip restaurant new friends are all jazzed we live near? I’ll get there – eventually.

So my bag of chia seeds sat there for awhile. But not anymore! For my first chia seed experience I wanted to keep things simple so I stocked up on sale strawberries (juicy and delicious ones at that) and whipped up this jam in no time at all. Seriously I was shocked by how quickly this recipe came together. But not shocked at how quickly it disappeared. Y-U-M.

It’s only a few days into fall but my cinnamon consumption has skyrocketed, and this jam is no exception. The one-quarter teaspoon in here adds a nice, warm spice that adds something special to the strawberries. And about those chia seeds. Nutritional super stars! Those little guys are packed full of fiber and antioxidants, and don’t have a distinct taste so they play well in plenty of recipes. I’ve been loving this super quick jam on super quick honey whole wheat bread, cornbread muffins, and little spoonfuls eaten under the guise of taste testing to make sure ‘it’s still good’.

Place strawberries and lemon juice in a small saucepan and set over medium heat. Once fruit is heated, mash fruit (I used a meat tenderizer) and stir until mixture is just barely bubbly. This took 5-6 minutes for me.

Add honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and chia seeds. Stir a few times and then cover saucepan and remove from heat. Let jam thicken for 5-10 minutes. Store leftover jam in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Comments

Alyssa, I can be a bit like that, too, especially with food purchases. I bought some coconut oil a while back with the intention of using it for all sorts of things, and it’s still sitting there in the cupboard …
As for chia seeds, I keep thinking I MUST give them a whirl, but …. well, still thinking … 😉
LOVE this jam! Any idea how long it would keep for in the fridge?

I did the same thing with coconut oil awhile back, Helen. I’m still getting used to its consistency, but I’ve generally enjoyed it in things I’ve baked! 🙂 I’m so glad I dug into these chia seeds…eventually. Haha! Our batch lasted a few weeks in the fridge (until it was all eaten up!) and was fine the whole time. The recipe I adapted suggests it will stay for two weeks refrigerated, so there’s that.

Alyssa, we are even more alike than I thought! I do the same thing – I have several boxes of shoes I had to have that haven’t even seen the light of day. 🙂 But chia seeds? I’m a huge fan, and I love the idea of putting them in jam. I’m a huge jam fan! 🙂 Pinned!

Haha Kristi! I took the tags off of a pair that had been hanging around for months just the other day. In my defense they’re leather booties that I bought on super sale while it was 90+ degrees in San Diego so it’s not like I would have worn them much before, but still. I’m a huge jam fan too! 🙂

Such a great idea, Ami! This is my first foray into chia jam but I think there is a lot more experimentation in my future. Love sneaking in healthy foods into things we generally always eat. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

Thanks Anna! Gaah I’ve been eating this jam on everything, because yeah! It’s not too bad for you! Although I certainly slathered lots of deliciously crusty bread with it so I’m sure the health factor faltered a bit on that one. Worth it! 🙂

I was the same way. It took me forever to buy chia seeds and I didn’t actually try them for a couple of months. Now I can’t get enough ;). It sounds like jam and chia seeds go perfectly together. Can’t wait to make some. It looks so delicious!!

Okay I haven’t experimented with chia seeds either….but I have owned a bag since like July. I just didn’t know what to do with them…add them to granola bars? Smoothies? I don’t know, I just couldn’t get on board. HOWEVER! I love this idea! I never thought of adding them to jam! This is so perfect, I can’t wait to try it!

Haha go girl, time to crack into them! This is a safe bet when it comes to first time chia-ing (well that’s not a word…). I can’t wait to experiment and try them out in other recipes (when I work up the courage!)

Thanks so much, Danielle! I haven’t really branched out too far with them, but figured I’d start simple with this jam. I loved this jam more than I thought I did, and I had high expectations in the first place! I can’t wait to try this with different fruits, too!

Thanks Natalie! I couldn’t believe how easy this jam was. I had it in my head that jam was “hard” and time-intensive, but this version was really simple and took no time! Love those kinds of recipes. 🙂

Oh my goodness, you described me to a T! I love the idea of new things, but especially with clothes, I have a hard time committing. I don’t take the tag off until I’ve worn it … yes, my family thinks I’m crazy 🙂 I still haven’t gotten chia seeds, but you’ve convinced me! This jam is so pretty, I really like the color. Haha, I can imagine I would find ways to add this to snacks, desserts, teas, and what not as well 🙂 Pinning!

Haha Mary Frances – I have a hard time committing to clothes too. I figure if the tag is still on at least I can return it! And I’m glad to hear that I have company in being late to the chia seed party. I was so pleasantly surprised with them in this jam, I think it’ll be a staple around here. And thanks for the pin! 🙂

Hi! I'm Alyssa, a twenty-something podcast junkie with a penchant for baking, boots, and pretty little things. Also strong coffee and spunky dogs. There's a good chance I can be found in the kitchen, wearing sequins, and dreaming of DIY. ♥